According to WA Transport, Planning, Lands Minister Rita Saffioti the revised Perth and Peel@3.5 planning concept will focus on good design and amenity while pushing to develop half of the 800,000 needed dwellings in existing suburbs through urban infill and higher density.

But as we are experiencing in Fremantle we do get urban infill and higher density but not quality architectural design and new innovative public amenity, with the Kings Square public realm as the exception.

Wood Bagor principal Leslie Ashor, who is visiting Perth from San Francisco, says we need to build up a different demographic and embrace not only new residents but also universities and schools and encourage incubators and co-working spaces for new technology because they would create potential for new micro businesses.